Kabul: Remembering the Paris of the East

There was a time when the name “Kabul” evoked not images of conflict, but of beauty, intellect, and cosmopolitan grace. It was a city where poets, professors, and artists gathered in gardens scented with apricots, where women strolled university corridors in colourful scarves, and where music, literature, and film flourished.

Once called the Paris of the East, Kabul stood as a testament to Afghanistan’s promise — a place where modernity and tradition coexisted in a delicate, hopeful balance.

A City of Culture and Grace

In the mid-twentieth century, Kabul was alive with culture. Its streets were lined with cinemas, cafés, and bookshops. Foreign diplomats and Afghan intellectuals discussed philosophy and politics over tea, and families spent weekends picnicking along the Paghman gardens. The city’s architecture blended Mughal influences with modern European designs, reflecting a society confident enough to look outward yet grounded in its own identity.

Afghan women were part of this transformation. They attended universities, worked in offices, and walked unveiled through the streets of a city that prided itself on education and progress. Kabul University became a symbol of this new energy — a hub where modern ideas met ancient heritage, and where dreams of a better, connected Afghanistan were born.

The Golden Era

During the 1960s and 1970s, Afghanistan stood on the brink of a modern renaissance. King Zahir Shah’s era brought a sense of openness and reform. Kabul’s international airport welcomed travellers from Europe, India, and the Middle East, and tourism thrived. Visitors described a country of breathtaking landscapes and generous hospitality, where people took pride in their culture but were eager to share it with the world.

Music, fashion, and cinema reflected this newfound confidence. Afghan musicians like Ahmad Zahir filled concert halls with melodies of love and longing, while boutiques on Chicken Street sold French perfumes alongside handwoven rugs. Women hosted radio shows, journalists covered politics fearlessly, and artists sketched a future that felt within reach.

Kabul was a mosaic of languages and faces, of mosques and galleries, of laughter and learning. It was a city that believed deeply in its place in the modern world.

The Descent into Darkness

Then came the storm. The late 1970s brought political turmoil, invasion, and decades of conflict that tore through the heart of Afghan society. What was once a city of light became a battlefield, its skyline scarred by war and its people scattered across continents.

The Kabul that was once elegant and alive was reduced to ruins and rubble. The theatres went silent. The libraries emptied. The scent of flowers in gardens gave way to the smell of dust and smoke.

And yet, even in its darkest moments, the memory of that old Kabul endures, whispered in the songs of the diaspora, remembered in the black-and-white photographs that captured its golden years, and carried in the hearts of those who once called it home.

Why Remembering Matters

To remember Kabul as the Paris of the East is not nostalgia; it is a form of resistance. It is a reminder that Afghanistan’s identity is not defined by war alone, but by the brilliance of what it once was and what it could be again.

It is to recall that progress, education, and cultural freedom were once not foreign concepts but the lived reality of an Afghan generation. It is to honour the teachers, artists, and dreamers who built a nation that believed in itself.

Kabul’s story is not over. Beneath the layers of pain and politics, there remains the same soul that once opened its arms to the world — a city waiting to rise again, to reclaim its rhythm, and to remind us that beauty and progress can endure, even after years of silence.

At Jalebi Connection, we believe stories like Kabul’s deserve to be remembered — not as relics of the past, but as reminders of what vision, culture, and unity can achieve when hope outweighs fear.

About JalebiConnection

JalebiConnection is Australia’s premier South Asian community hub — a platform where tradition meets modern living. We celebrate the richness of South Asian culture through stories that span news, heritage, lifestyle, health, food, entertainment, and beyond.

Our goal is simple: to create meaningful connections. We give voice to South Asians across Australia while opening doors to dialogue with the wider community. From covering international headlines and local events to sharing recipes, cultural traditions, and wellness practices, JalebiConnection is more than a media platform — it’s a space for belonging.

Whether you’re looking to stay informed, discover fresh ideas, or feel closer to your roots, JalebiConnection brings together the stories that matter most. Because when cultures connect, communities thrive.